SCHOOL OF
COMMUNICATION
Peter Anderson CMNS 456-4 Fall 2004
Lab: SH 1025; 604-291-4921/3626 Burnaby Day
email: anderson@sfu.ca
COMMUNICATION To mitigate disasters
Prerequisite:
75 credits including one of CMNS 230, 253 or 353.
Overview: The increasing complexity of societies and growing
specialization in hazard management clearly demonstrates that no authority or
discipline can identify and address all of the significant consequences of
hazards. This applies whether
hazards be natural (earthquakes, extreme weather events, etc.), human-induced
(such as nuclear and hazardous chemical accidents), or the interaction of
both. The impact of hazards cuts
across economic, social and political divisions in society so that the adequacy
of the cumulative response is greatly influenced by the degree to which
proactive as well as reactive action can be effectively integrated and
optimized. Successful integration
of hazard reduction efforts, however, depends on the ability of organizations
and individuals involved in all phases of the disaster management process
(prevention, preparedness, response, recovery/reconstruction) to work together
to develop and implement solutions to commonly-recognized problems. In this regard, key factors in
effective mitigation are the information and communication infrastructures that
contribute to building knowledge about hazards and the interpretive processes
which contribute to the formulation of options for collective action.
Over the course of
the past decade, tremendous changes to the global communication infrastructure
have taken place, including the popular uptake of the Internet, the staggering
growth and plummeting costs of mobile telecommunications, and the
implementation of advanced space-based remote sensing and satellite communication
systems. These new technologies
have begun to transform the field of disaster management with an ambitious, if
not vague, promise of enhancing planning and reducing loss of life and property
through improved communications.
In effect, two major developments have taken place within the last
decade: a conceptual shift in
disaster management toward more holistic and long-term risk reduction
strategies, and a communication revolution that has increased dramatically both
the accessibility of information and the functionality of communication
technology for disaster management.
While these shifts hold great promise for significantly reducing the
impact of disasters, many issues remain to be addressed or resolved. These include risk management and
sustainable development, emergency telecommunications policy and appropriate
technology transfer.
Drawing on some of these pressing issues,
this course will introduce students to disaster management in the Canadian
context and the changing role of telecommunications in emergency
preparedness. The course will
comprise an overview of government and non-government organizations responsible
for emergency and disaster planning and management in Canada; the special role
of communication and information systems in disaster management and policy
issues affecting their use; and the potential role that new communication and
information technologies can play in enhancing information gathering,
interpretation and exchange in support of research and disaster management
practices. This course will also
include guest speakers, in-class demonstrations, on-line use of Internet
systems and possible local field trips.
Readings:
No required textbooks.
Course readings will be made available at the bookstore and in class.
.
Grading Distribution: (subject to revision with notice)
15% - seminar
presentation
10% class
participation
75% - three
assignments
The School expects
that the grades awarded in this course will bear some reasonable relation to
established university-wide practices with respect to both levels and
distribution of grades. In
addition, the School will follow Policy T10.02 with respect to ÒIntellectual
Honesty,Ó and ÒAcademic DisciplineÓ (see the current Calendar, General
Regulations Section).
Seminar Topics:
-
Introduction
to the course content and perspective.
- Introduction
to natural hazards, emergency and disaster planning--general overview.
- Federal,
provincial and local government responsibilities and programs.
- International
disaster management programs; the role of the U.N. and non-U.N. agencies; the
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and the Tampere Declaration on
Disaster Communications.
- Emergency
communications planning.
- Emergency
telecommunications services.
-
Advances in
communication technology and the development of new disaster management
information networks.
-
Table top
exercise.
-
Summary and
Review.